Enjoy the silence. Cicadas are coming
If you haven't heard the buzz, you will soon. Billions of periodical cicadas are coming, and University of Illinois Extension is sharing information to help track their moves before emergence.
“Historically speaking, 2024 is a big year for...
Get tools to manage non-native plants and insects at Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
URBANA, Ill. — Spotted lanternflies were found in Illinois for the first time in 2023. Quagga and zebra mussels clog water intake pipes on Lake Michigan, and every spring, invasive Bradford Callery pear trees and amur bush honeysuckle bloom across Illinois communities instead of native...
Spring brings opportunity to forage wild mushrooms
URBANA, Ill. — Spring is a time of change. Migrating birds return. Ephemeral wildflowers start popping up. And morel mushrooms start appearing prompting enthusiastic mushroom hunters to scour forests across Illinois in search of the elusive and delectable fungi.
Determined...
It's Food Waste Prevention Week: Illinois Extension has tips and programs to address this issue
The first week in April is designated as Food Waste Prevention Week (April 1-7). University of Illinois Extension is spotlighting this national campaign to raise awareness around the issue of food waste and its economic, social, and environmental implications, aiming to inspire change at home...
Determining cash rent on Illinois farmland
URBANA, Ill. — One of the most consistently asked questions to University of Illinois Extension offices across the state is, what is the going rate for cash rent for farmland?
Cash rent rates are a common yet recurring question that is...
Spring into composting by reviving a compost pile after winter
URBANA, Ill. — If you haven’t touched your compost bin or pile all winter, don’t worry, you are not alone. It could be filled with kitchen scraps to the top or left untouched since the fall. Getting a compost pile going again after the long, cold winter can be intimidating, but it is...
Spring back into nature with sustainability tips from Everyday Environment series
URBANA, Ill. — Every spring, nature reminds us of the beauty of the wild spaces that surround us. Wildflowers bloom in the forest understory. Mushrooms pop up overnight in your front yard. The sun sets slowly over a lake. Explore tips to manage the threat of invasive plants, explore the...
Explore the 2024 All-America Selection flower and vegetable variety winners
URBANA, Ill. — While the rain, thunderstorms, and snow replenish the soil moisture, winter can still bring the blues. To welcome the spring season, check mailboxes for the new garden catalogs and start spring garden planning. When planning, remember to leave room for the spontaneous buys when...
Gov. Pritzker announces $28.8 million in USDA grants to provide free local food to communities
PEORIA, Ill. — Governor JB Pritzker announced $28.8 million in grant funding to provide free locally-produced food to vulnerable communities. The grants are being awarded to organizations in Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Human...
Researcher calls on Illinois landowners to participate in historic soil analysis
Illinois landowners could be eligible for $5,000 in free soil analyses and consultation with a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research team in exchange for participating in a historic project seeking to learn how soils have changed over 120...
Explore outdoor, backyard hobbies with spring webinar series
URBANA, Ill. — In a few short months, spring will be sprung. Kick it off by discovering a new outdoor hobby or backyard project to add to the to-do list through Four Seasons Gardening webinars beginning March 19....
AgrAbility strives to help farmers take charge of their health with webinar series
URBANA, Ill. — Experiencing symptoms from chronic pain is a daily occurrence for many. Symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, stress, and fear are often side effects of chronic pain and can be difficult to manage each day. For farmers and farm families, these symptoms can slow progress on and...
Root for your favorite native plant in Rain Garden Rumble playoff
URBANA, Ill. — It’s plant versus plant in the return of the Rain Garden Rumble that pits native flowers against each other in a friendly competition to take home the 2024 title. This March, get to know 28 plants native to Illinois by building a bracket and voting for your favorites in the annual...
Meet the challenge of heavier spring rains with climate series for farmers
URBANA, Ill. — Weather trends are changing. Be prepared for how it can affect your farming operation with expert updates from University of Illinois and Purdue University. The bi-state climate webinar series brings together university experts and resources from...
New study finds Extension offices have vital role in fight against growing number of tick bites
URBANA, Ill. — A tick bite can happen anywhere: a park, your backyard, a farm field. The uncertainty can be scary. Do you pull it out? How? What do you do with the tick? What if you get sick?
A call, email, or visit to the local University of Illinois Extension office can help provide...
Discover Blue Zone Lessons at the 3rd Annual Winter Wellness Family Event on Saturday, February 17!
Join the University of Illinois Extension for the 3rd Annual Winter Wellness Family Event at Watch Tower Lodge in Rock Island, IL, on Saturday, February 17, from 10 am – 1 pm. Presented in collaboration with Black Hawk State Historic Site, this event invites you to explore health and wellness in...
New Extension initiatives empower Illinois to meet the challenges of changing climate
URBANA, Ill. — The science is clear; the world’s climate is changing. Illinois has already seen the impacts on everything from agriculture productivity and food access to public health hazards and diminishing natural resources. To meet these challenges and further its land-grant mission of...
